We, the participants of the Sundarbans Solidarity Action Networking and An Alternative Energy Solutions for Bangladesh, organised by The National Committee to Protect oil, gas and mineral resources power and ports in Bangladesh, European Action Branch on 19-20 August, 2017 in Berlin have accepted the declaration as below:

The Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, is bestowed with magnificent scenic beauty and extraordinarily rich biodiversity with a unique eco-system. It is a habitat of some of the endangered species e.g. Bengal Tiger, Ganges dolphin. People living in adjacent areas are also dependent on this forest. Besides providing livelihood, it is also protecting millions of people living in the coastal belt from tidal surges and cyclones.

This forest is under severe threat from a Bangladesh-India joint venture project– Rampal Power Plant, a coal based power generating company. The plant is placed only 14 km from the forest. It is estimated that the plant will emit 7.9 million tons of CO2, and 0.94 million tons of ashes annually which will contaminate environment of the adjacent areas and will put the intricate ecosystem into perilous condition. Despite the grave concerns raised by the experts, scientists, environmentalists, local population, and international organisations, the Government of Bangladesh has been working to implement the project for the last seven years.

The project is scheduled to be completed within next one year or two. To justify the project the government is blatantly giving false assurances to protect the forest from all sorts of adverse impacts. The Government of India is also a major stakeholder in this joint-venture project and playing important roles as consultant, financier, and supplier of the equipment.

There is a growing demand for electricity in the country. To address the demand, the government has adopted a Power Sector Master Plan (PSMP) in 2016. The plan has proposed that the use of coal would increase from the current 0.3% to over 35%. The coal-fired power plants would produce electricity worth of 19,000 MW. It has also set the target to meet 10% of its electricity demand, by 2041, from its 7000 MW nuclear fleet, undermining the renewable energy potential. According to the PSMP 2016, the contribution of renewable energy would be only 3% of total electricity generation by 2041. This suggests that the government’s plan has failed to address environmental concerns and technical development in regards to renewable energy sources. Environment-friendly renewable energy solutions are sustainable and cost effective and because of this, many countries in Europe and Asia including India and China are moving away from coal and nuclear-based power generations. On the other hand, ignoring the current trend, the government of Bangladesh has taken a position in support of coal and nuclear-based power generations.

National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports (Bangladesh) has proposed an Alternative Power Sector Master Plan (APSMP) in July 2017. The APSMP 2017 has proposed to generate 55% of electricity from renewable energy sources including solar, wind, waste etc. by 2041. National committee also insists on building the national capability to attain 100% renewable energy usage to meet electricity demand by 2050. It has also categorically refuted the government’s arguments in regards to the nuclear and coal dependent energy policy.

We demand the government to listen to the clean energy movement and protect people’s interest rather than corporate interest. As renewable energy is cheaper and eco-friendly, we demand policy shift emphasizing renewable energy production rather than dirty coal energy generation. Renewable energy will protect ecology, life and livelihood of the people. The government must take appropriate steps to phase out coal and replace it with renewable energy sources. As a coal based power plant, Rampal Plant will irreversibly damage the Sundarbans. It will disrupt the link between humans and the environment by destroying ecology and species. This conference unequivocally demands the immediate halt of the plant. We urge everyone to raise their voice to save our Sundarbans, and to save our future.